Using a book published in 1939, aas core text describes how a man works the aa program in the first 164 pages of the big book. Adams county meetings district 35 alcoholics anonymous. It is my hope that you will find this site useful to you and our friends of bill w. Ive been around aa for 18,years yet sober 4 but months and have heard of many suggestions however reading the first 164 pages of the big book has caused me to be curious, by no means am i disagreeing with this afterall the big book is the. The format changes each hour with a host chairing each meeting. God will constantly disclose more to you and to us. Aa big book aa big book taghere the foundation progress and principles washington temperance society of baltimore the missionary spirit alcoholism recovery 3rd edition 2nd edition alcohol allergy rehabilitation of alcoholics dr. The first 164 pages of the big book, alcoholics anonymous, the preface, the. Find all uses of this word in the big book alcoholics anonymous and the twelve steps and twelve traditions of a. This is a link to the complete 4 th edition of the aa bigbook online. Why is it suggested to read first 164 pages in big book. Since the first edition appeared, in 1939, it has helped millions of men and women recover from alcoholism.
Big book index first 164 pages 3 subject pages paragraphs proper use of will power 85 1 prospects decision 95 3 quit playing god 62 through 63 3 then 1 repairing the damage 99 1 resentment 64 3 restless, irritable, and discontented xxvi 4. Informally known as the big book with its first 164 pages virtually unchanged. The following is a list ofapproximately 150 promises that i compiled from the first edition of the big book. The purpose of the big book is to show precisely how numerous alcoholics have recovered. A vision for you, big book page 164 alcoholics anonymous. Whether youre new to aa, or youre a seasoned veteran, this is the easiest and most useful app to aid in your recovery. As you type, words are displayed which match your keystrokes. The foreword of the first edition explains exactly what the first 164 pages are for, they are the program of aa. To read a pdf version of the fourth edition of alcoholics anonymous click here. The book that started it all offers fresh insights into the history and foundation of the revolutionary alcoholics anonymous program. The 164 and more book, ebook, and web site are all concordances which display passages from the big book alcoholics anonymous, the twelve steps and twelve traditions, and the a. Id heard that there were some changes made in the fourth edition to reflect this rediculous move toward political correctness and i am one of those bangers that believes the big book is the aa bible and should be left alone. The first 164 pages remain unchanged, so anyone in a meeting at anytime can refer to a page number and everyone else can find it, much as a. In the first few chapters a number of sudden revolutionary changes are described.
When you come through the doors of aa, it is suggested that you purchase a big book. The first 164 pages of the big book is the outline for recovery, which constitute the program of recovery. The whytehouse is, i hope, a way to find that special phrase or saying etc. Our goal is to study the steps as a friendly, focused group, and work them as the authors of the big book described. Inerrant means without error, and it is a concept religious scholars have tried to apply to the christian bible, without success. This petition is about saving the lives of both men and women alcoholics. The first section contains 164 pages that are the textbook for a recovering alcoholic. Alcohol was my main problem but im not an alcoholic. I still smoke pot, ill eagerly take pills when theyre available to me, im hooked on sex. These days i am participating in a big book study group which i find immensely rewarding.
In the first three chapters of a secular sobriety including a secular version of the first 164 pages of the big book dale describes how he stayed sober in aa in florida over the last 36 years in spite of rampant christian religiosity in most meetings. The text and page numbers are the same in both the 3rd edition and 4th edition of the big book. Aa history and how the big book was put together by bill w. The answers will come, if your own house is in order. Whether it be the drinking problem, or social, emotional, mental, moral, ethical, love or relationship matters, the answers for living can be found here. Nonetheless, we hope that our reading guide for a vision for you might still prove useful. These are the changes that have been made in the program portion of the big book the first 164 pages and the roman numeral pages since it was first. This excerpt of the alcoholics anonymous big book lets you get your hands on pages that. We now seek to complete our series by providing some insight into the last chapter of the big book.
I put more stock in the steps themselves than in the rest of the first 164 pages when it comes to spirituality manifesting in concrete terms. Before writing on the 3rd step, it behooved me to allow readers unfamiliar with big book of aa to read from themselves bills understanding of the problem and solution the big book was first published in 1939. The big book, the twelve steps and the twelve traditions. Must in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12.
Some of the promises are directly associated with completion of a step. Type the first few characters of your wordofinterest into the search box in the upper right corner. I wont quote it, but look at the subtitle on the title page in the big book. Windows 7 alcoholics anonymous books, software, phone. The big book is an outline for recovery, never claiming to be a cure or a certain solution for everyone and anything. Without embracing the literature, success in aa is difficult. Whats the difference between the aa big book and the na. Miracles in progress 12 step recovery forums alcoholics anonymous alcoholics anonymous pages 62 68 of big book. Aug 17, 2011 the first section of the big book of alcoholics anonymous has not changed or been revised in any of the four editions. And in doing so, through the strength of a higher power, i have managed to quit drinking. Bill, bob and the others wrote the book in the hope that we would read it.
Bill wrote on the very last page of the first 164 pages. Women are only mentioned as the wife of the alcoholic. Jerry needed to know so he started upon a project to identify the changes that were made to various printings and editions of the big book. In april 1939, 4,730 copies of the 1st edition of alcoholics anonymous were. The cases in the first 164 pages of the big book, the part that describes how aa works and how to work aa, refer only to men. This created a thirst for an even greater knowledge of the vital information contained in the big book. Using a book published in 1939, aa s core text describes how a man works the aa program in the first 164 pages of the big book. How ridiculous would it be if people tried to do the same with the big book. The first few chapters of the big book provided an overview of the alcoholic condition. At this early part of the 21st century, membership in aa continues to grow, and a fourth edition will undoubtedly continue that trend. The big book of alcoholics anonymous attributes sobriety to the work of an interventionist god. Part i pioneers of aa acceptance was the answer previously doctor, alcoholic, addict 439 407 dr. To show other alcoholics precisely how we have recovered is the main purpose of this book. Bobs nightmare 171 171 window of opportunity 421 aa number three 182 182 he had to be shown 193 he thought he could drink like a gentlemen.
There are, however, additional promises in the big book. The first three editions of the aa big book provide an indication of the changes which occurred since aa began in the late 1930s. Big book changes these are the changes that have been made in the program portion of the big book the first 164 pages and the roman numeral pages since it was first published on april 10, 1939. Dec 07, 2014 but it was never meant to be inerrant. The text of the 1st 164 pages of alcoholics anonymous. For them, we hope these pages will prove so convincing. In the subsequent dozen chapters he goes on to rewrite the first 164 of the big book. A portion of chapter 5 from the aa big book promises. Watch asl dvd version includes subtitles and audio in english. The second part of the book has changed slightly with the printing of each new edition.
Ask him in your morning meditation what you can do each day for the man who is still sick. We gave up our positions and off we roared on a motorcycle, the sidecar stuffed with tent, blankets, a change of clothes, and three huge volumes of a financial. The original members of aa, between 1935 and 1939 went to only one meeting per week, and that meeting wasnt an aa meeting they were oxford group meetings. Page iii, foreword to the first edition of big book, alcoholics anonymous. If you have a drinking problem, we hope that you may pause in reading. An extraordinary reproduction of the original working manuscript of alcoholics anonymous, with essays and notes by a panel of celebrated aa historians. Alcoholics anonymous, preface to the third edition, p. The first secretary of alcoholics anonymous every word in the big book came under her fingers we the people the gabriel heatter broadcast of april 25, 1939. Aa ignores science research that sexism is linked to high risk drinking in men and women. Big book changes that have been made in the program portion of the the first 164 pages and the roman numeraled pages since it was first published on april 10, 1939 click here. Wilson, one of the founders of alcoholics anonymous aa.
Sorting and rendering passages in the proprietary format of the 164 and more concordance does not in any way imply affiliation with or endorsement by either alcoholics. Type in any word from the book and you will be brought right to where it appears in the text and what you are looking for will be highlighted. For any 12 steppers out there this anonymous press edition is the most handy and useful edition of the big book ive ever come cross. This is the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous. The story of how more than one hundred men have recovered from alcoholism, from which aa drew its name. Oct 21, 2012 the first few times i read it like a novel and didnt learn much.
The first section of the big book of alcoholics anonymous has not changed or been revised in any of the four editions. Remote meetings aa meetings monterey ca alcoholics anon. Fairfield, back to basics, fairfield mennonite church, 201 west main st. New stories have been added to the personal histories. Home read the big book and twelve steps and twelve traditions alcoholics anonymous alcoholics anonymous this is the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous. Reading guide for a vision for you amethyst recovery center.
To share their method, wilson and other members wrote the initiallytitled book, alcoholics anonymous. The text of the first 164 pages of alcoholics anonymous, unchanged since they first came off press in 1939, evolved from a process of furious debate and wise compromise. Correction to the remote meeting listing and include the meeting name, day, and time. While the program is considered a suggested method for dealing with the disease of alcoholism, there are places within the big book where the authors used the word must. We read small sections of the book alcoholics anonymous big book and have a lead share on the reading. Another letter from bill accompanied all the changes planned for the second edition of the a. A vision for you, big book page 164 our book is meant to be suggestive only. We wish to make the 12 steps of alcoholics anonymous part of our lives by collaborating with a power greater than ourselves an inner knowing, our own. There were 4 musts in the first and second editions of alcoholics anonymous.
Sep 17, 2015 the stories tend to change through the various editions of the book alcoholics anonymous, familiarly known to many in recovery as the big book as it was big but the main text of the first. Some people have recovered from alcoholism, though, and the big book offers a suggested outline that seems to help a few. Here they are, the 82 occurrences of the word must found in alcoholics anonymous 4th edition. The story of how many thousands of men and women have recovered from alcoholism generally known as the big book because of the thickness of the paper used in the first edition is a 1939 basic text, describing how to recover from alcoholism, primarily written by william g. The big book the main 164 pages, prayers, personal stories, and more. My dad and i thoroughly discussed how the question why dont you choose your own conception of god. These are the changes that have been made in the program portion of the big book the first 164 pages and the roman numeraled pages since it was first. The stories tend to change through the various editions of the book alcoholics anonymous, familiarly known to many in recovery as the big. But if youre looking for a collection of the primary lessons offered up by the last chapter of the big book, this guide should do just fine. Page 4 the major changes to the big book editions have been in the selection of personal stories so that they represent a good crosssection of the aa membership. Bill wilson was the primary author of the big book and 12 steps but others did. Alcoholics anonymous the big book pages 1 164 boardprep.
So, to all the present and past members of this group goes thanks for their interest and participation. Fourth edition 2001 of the big book, basic text of a. The first edition big book stories including 1st edition printing history story listings original manuscript through 3rd edition and story authors names where known. This desire gave birth to the primary purpose group of alcoholics anonymous of dallas, texas, in january, 1988. Why is it suggested to read 1st 164 pgs of big book. Big book changes in 1st 164 pages from 1st edition to 4th. Remote meetings below is a list of all monterey area a. The word sponsor is not even mentioned in the first 164 pages of the basic text of the big book. Even more than the word god, the word friend is mentioned in the big book basic text 74 times. Each 1st reference given in red is from the first edition. Why was aa world services claiming that no changes had ever been made to the first 164 pages of the big book, when clearly changes had. Copyright alcoholics anonymous world services, inc.
It is our personal experience that there is great wisdom and magic within the pages of the aa literature. The text of alcoholics anonymous the first edition stories the second edition stories the original manuscript changes made to the manuscript. You can use any of our indexes with either edition. The 1995 general service conference recommended that, the first 164 pages of the big book, alcoholics anonymous, the preface, the forewords, the doctors opinion, dr. If you are a member of aa, and you work the steps outlined in the first 164 pages of the big book, you will recover. Dec 14, 2007 i have for a long time considered it divinely inspired, just as i consider many texts in the same way. All the indexes we publish are for the 1st 164 pages the main text. Many of us have heard of the ninth step promises from page 8384 of the big book of alcoholics anonymous.
The free version features the full text of the big book, prayers, personal stories, podcasts, meeting finder, and more. Sponorship is not ordained or regulated by the aa program. I have provided a link in a couple of places on this page for your convenience, so you can get to the search page. Petition stop printing the sexist version of the big book. Here is a pdf version of the first 164 pages found in all aa books. The following is a list of the 40 musts from the big book. Ive heard it said that contained in the first 164 pages of the big book, alcoholics anonymous, is the answer to all lifes problems today. Big book changes 1 these are the changes that have been made in the program portion of the big book the first 164 pages and the roman numeraled pages since it was first published on april 10, 1939. It definitely helps to read the chapter in full before starting. If your meeting is listed below and needs a correction, please email us at. In addition to saving time, you can be sure that all instances are located. Spiritual experience the terms spiritual experience and spiritual awakening are used many times in this book which, upon careful reading, shows that the personality change suf.